Carnival starts at Vittoriosa

Carnival kicked off yesterday at Vittoriosa, with soldiers in period costume marching along the streets and dancers and small floats adding more than a splash of colour to the historic town.

The activity was organised by Vittoriosa local council and the National Folklore Commission.

Carnival celebrations will go on until Tuesday, involving 37 events and 15 local councils which will hold activities in their own towns and villages. The main celebrations will take place in Valletta on Sunday afternoon.

At 5.30 p.m. today there will be street dancing and a short defilè starting from St George's Square, in Valletta. There will also be activities in Qrendi and Zebbug.

Tomorrow morning there will be children's carnival in Freedom Square, in Valletta, with competitions in the afternoon. A Swiss band, Gugge Band Kulturschocker Lyss, will perform in Valletta in the morning and in Paola in the evening.

Also tomorrow, a defilè starts from Cospicua Road in Paola at 7 p.m.

Street dancing will take place in Valletta tomorrow evening and on Sunday.

Among the novelties this year is an activity for all the family on the granaries, in Floriana, on Sunday morning, when carnival floats will be on show starting at 10 a.m. There will be several animators, games and gifts for children.

On Sunday there will also be morning carnival activities in Hamrun, Zurrieq, Zabbar, Siggiewi, Dingli, Qormi, Gzira and Floriana.

On Monday, there will be afternoon carnival activities in Birzebbuga and in Valletta and in the evening in Mellieha.

An exhibition, mounted by the Youth Services Organisation within the Education Division together with the National Folklore Commission, and including paintings, miniature floats, masks and collages, will be held at the Education Ministry, in Floriana between today and Tuesday.

Carnival comes to an end on Tuesday with activities in Valletta and Floriana.